A mighty big role for Lin
Suiting up for the new Power Rangers movie a childhood dream come true for Vancouver actor
Vancouver-raised actor got to revisit a piece of his childhood in the B.C.-shot blockbuster movie Power Rangers, which is a reboot on the 1990s TV series.
When he was a little kid, actor Ludi Lin was like a lot of other kids who spent a lot of time making up adventures for his or her favourite action figures.
“The first western toy I ever got was a Power Ranger action figure. A tiny yellow Power Ranger that came with a motorcycle in the shape of a unicorn. That was actually from the original Super Sentai Series. I loved it,” said Lin, who spent his early childhood in China before moving to Australia, then Vancouver.
“I didn’t know that was a Power Ranger until I came to North America and started watching the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers.”
Turns out those hours of play were quite prescient as Lin, who calls Vancouver and Beijing home, is Zack/Black Ranger in the $160-million Power Rangers movie that hit big screens on Friday.
“It’s incredible getting this film. I found out so many fans around the world that share this deep love for the Power Rangers that I did,” said Lin.
“This is why the Power Rangers are so cool — there are fans all over the world loving this thing.”
One of the most enduring franchises ever, the Power Rangers captured North America’s attention in 1993 with the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers TV show.
There have been 24 seasons of 20 different types of television series.
Two theatrical movies have been produced and the third is expected to add more profits to the $6 billion-plus the franchise has earned to date.
Directed by Dean Israelite, the Vancouver/Kamloops-shot blockbuster mines the classic Power Rangers’ base storyline of a group of school misfits using their secret super powers and can-do attitudes to save the world.
The villain is the old-school favourite Rita Repulsa, played here by Elizabeth Banks.
Along with Hollywood A-lister Banks, the cast also includes Bryan Cranston as Zordon and the Power Rangers: Dacre Montgomery (Red Ranger), Naomi Scott (Pink Ranger), R.J. Cyler (Blue Ranger), Becky G (Yellow Ranger) and Lin.
“Zack is a complete person to me,” said Lin about the character.
“I wanted to bring a certain cultural background to Zack. Zack is an immigrant from China so in his home life he speaks authentic fluent Mandarin with his mom. I think in American cinema it is rare to show that side, to be so authentic.”
Lin, who is also fluent in Mandarin, is serious when it comes to authenticity. He wants to shatter the Asian character norms that are all too familiar on TV and in film.
“I think the Asian roles in Western Cinema have a very high incidence of stereotype and caricature. Immediately when the audience sees an Asian person step on screen it’s ‘that’s the geek or that’s the crime boss or that’s the Kung Fu master.’
“I find that to be quite boring watching a film like that. For Zack I wanted something more complete, so Zack is a wild guy, wild character. He loves adventures.”
You could say that about Lin, too. He has travelled extensively and is currently building a strong movie career in China. After the Power Rangers media tour he is out promoting two Chinese films.
“That is a big part of my career and I hope in the future it remains a big part of my career because I want to bridge that gap. I want to show more Asian culture,” said Lin about working in China.
“I would be so honoured if I could contribute to that effort but for myself I feel like being international is inevitable regardless of what the political climates are.
“This is why I have a hard time pinpointing a home base. I want to keep moving around — there’s lots to explore. I want to learn more about the world and more about myself.”
And he’s been doing that lately. Media tours for the Power Rangers have taken him from Macau to Mexico City.
Fans have surrounded hotels and screamed out support for their beloved Power Rangers.
“It’s been quite crazy,” said Lin with a reflective sigh. “The Power Rangers mean a lot to people.”
So now after travelling the globe and talking about the tenacious teens and their otherworldly abilities surely Lin has put some thought into what super power he would want to possess.
“If I had a super power, OK this is the other side of me, I’m kind of a nerd at heart so I would want knowledge,” said Lin, who doesn’t count his age in years but rather days. Around 10,000 or so right now. “I’d want the ability to know how to do anything. I think possibilities are endless and the only limit is know how.”
“It’s been quite crazy. The Power Rangers mean a lot to people.” — LUDI LIN BLACK RANGER